Darien Residents Voting On Tax Hike For Fire District

DARIEN, IL – Voters in the Tri-State Fire Protection District, which includes parts of Darien, are set to decide on a property tax increase in the March 17 election.

The measure would mean $38 million for the district. It would bring an estimated $140 annual increase for the owner of a $400,000 house.

The plan includes rebuilding Darien's Tri-State fire station. It is next to the Indian Prairie Public Library at Plainfield and Clarendon Hills roads.

Darien's station is on a compact site that cannot accommodate any additions needed to meet modern standards, according to the fire district's website.

"Renovating the current building would be inefficient and still leave critical layout and infrastructure issues unresolved," the website said. "The current apparatus bay requires fire vehicles to perform a three-point turn on Plainfield Road after returning from a call, delaying traffic and creating safety concerns."

The district said a rebuild would avoid the ongoing costs of maintaining outdated systems, inefficient layouts and infrastructure that is past its useful life.

If the tax hike passes, the district would renovate the stations in Willowbrook and Willow Springs. It would either renovate or relocate the station in Burr Ridge.

This is the first tax hike referendum since the fire district was founded in 1946.

A section of Tri-State's website is about the referendum.